Christmas Markets

In Germany they love Christmas. So scattered throughout the city are Christmas markets. They are so sweet and fun and all unique. My friend Gracie and I went to a few the other night and it was great.

This is lovely Gracie in front of a TWO-STORY CAROUSEL! It was so pretty we just needed a picture. One of the places one could sit was a giant pig. He was running and sticking his tongue out. It was so funny but it was also quite fast (as you can see) so no picture of the pig. Sorry.

This is a traditional German Christmas thing. I'm not sure what it's called but it's usually small and wooden. You can light a candle under it and it will spin. My friend Jan Payne has had one for years. This is obviously less small but no less charming. It even has a restaurant on one of the levels where people were eating! So cool.

So lovely. I really love Christmas. At these markets they have food, hot spiced wine (called Gluwein), gifts to buy, and lovely lights. They really are so fun. I think for the next few weeks I'll be going a lot.

Thanksgiving

Well it was just a normal Thursday for everyone here in Berlin, except for 20 of us! For the Americans it was an all day event! Mostly in our own tiny kitchens cooking something. But the Germans had a lovely evening as well!

These are my potatoes. I had about 20 pounds. It was a little crazy.

finished product. The sign of success is when Germans AND Americans like your food. Success!

I also made a pumpkin pie. With canned pumpkin. Not easy to find but oh so delicious.

This is my boss, John. He did the turkey. also not easy to find. I didn't know turkeys were indigenous to North America. Lucky you.

Here is the spread. Almost gone.

Here are some people! On the phone is Lukas and to his right is Gracie. Both wonderful. Also, next to them (left) is Bartek (from New Zealand), his girlfriend Annika, my friend Dennis, and Matteus Matteus Matteus (you HAVE to say it three times).

The girl on the right is my rommate Kaddy and next to her is my new friend Judith. Judith lives less than 2 minutes away (walking) which is so nice. And she and I will practice English and German together because she works for IJM (International Justice Mission) and we both need the practice. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________We had a really nice time. John opened with a reading on thanksgiving from the Bible and we all had a lovely time talking and being thankful for our different friends from such different walks of life. It almost felt like home.